Telesteps wins patent dispute

Telesteps, a subsidiary of Gunnebo Industrier, has won a protracted patent dispute with Core Distribution. The European Patent Office has upheld Telesteps's patent for its telescopic ladder.

Telesteps, a subsidiary of Gunnebo Industrier and the innovator and world leader in telescopic ladders, has just won a patent dispute with Core Distribution. In December 2005, Core Distribution objected to Telesteps's European patent and requested that it be rescinded. The basis of the objection was the claim that the invention was not new and that it lacked inventiveness.

After a protracted process, the European Patent Office has upheld Telesteps's patent.

“We are very pleased to have won this protracted patent dispute,” says Jonas Netterström, head of the Telescopics business unit and CEO of Telesteps. “We are proud of our invention of telescopic work tools, and the ruling confirms that we are a serious player with our patented and certified products.”

The European Patent Office announced its ruling at the close of litigation. A written ruling will be released within a few weeks. After that, the ruling may be appealed against within two months.